Grapple device



F. RAIDT.

GRAPPLE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 1. 1919.

Patented Mar. 2, 1920.

L I E, 04

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK RAIDT, or QUINCY, ILLINOIS.

GRAPPLE DEVICE.

Application filed July 1, 1919.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK RAIDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Quincy. in the county of Adams and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grapple Devices of which. the following is a specification.

This invention relates to grapple devices, for elevating bodies, more particular building blocks or stones, and the like, and has for one of its objects to simplify and improve the construction and increase th efficiency and utility of devices of this character.

Another object of the invention is to pro duce a device of this character which firmly holds the bOdy which is being grappled dur ing the time that downward pull or strain is applied, but which will be automatically released when the strain isremoved, or when the body comes in contact with a resisting.

medium such as the ground, a portion of a wall already constructed. or the llke.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed device of this character which may be folded into small space when not in use, for transportation or storage.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction as hereafter shown and described and then specifically pointed out in the claims and in the drawings illustrative of the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved device.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same.

The improved. device comprises a plurality of bars or plates 10 hingedly united at their confronting ends as shown at 11 with one pair of the bars overlapping as illustrated at 191. One portion of the over lapping members is provided with a staple 18 which is adapted to pass through an apcrture or slot in. the other adjacent member to receive a holding pin 14. By this means the members 10 are detachably coupled at one portion of their circuit around the body to be elevated, the latter being represented conventionally at 15. Associated with each of the members 10 is a wedge block 16, adapted to be disposed between the members 10 and the body 15 as illustrated in Fig. 2.

Each of the members 10 is provided with Specification of Letters Patent. Patented luau. 2, 1920.

Serial N 0. 307,914.

a lifting appliance such as a chain 17, the several chains being brought together at the center and provided with a hoisting chain or cable 18. When the block or body 15 is to be grappled the members 10 are disassociated by withdrawing the pin 13 and the members placed around the body and the overlapping portions united by the coupling pin and staple as illustrated in Fig. 1. The wedge blocks 16 are then driven between the body 15 and the members ,10 as illus trated in Fig. 2 with the smaller ends of the wedges downwardly. By this arrangement when strain is applied to the hoisting member .18 it will be obvious that the wedges will be tightened against the body 15 and the latter firmly gripped and coupled to the members 10 and capable of being elevated therewith. So long as the upward strain is applied the wedge blocks will remain intact, but when the body 15 is lowered to place in the wall or upon the ground, or wherever it is desired to place it, the strain upon the wedges will be released and the -members 10 together with the wedges will drop downwardly free from the body 1.5. and can be readily removed by detaching the holding pin. The members 10 will be of suitable strength. to withhold the strain to which they will be subjected, and will preferably be of steel or the like. Thermombers 10 will be bent outwardly as shown in Fig. 1 when strain is applied, and will thus firml grip the wedges and hold them in connection with the body 15 and prevent the latter from slipping out of the encircling band formed by the members 10. The wedges 16 will preferably be united. to the adjacent members 10 by chains 19 to revent loss of the wedges when the device is removed. l/Vhen not in use the members 10 will be folded in close relation to occupy less space during transportation or storage.

The improved device is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and the proportions and other minor parts may be altered as required without departing from the principle of the invention.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A grappling device of the class described comprising spring metal sections hingedly connected together and adapted to fold closely together, and wedges for disposition between the sections and an object to be liftedto spring said sections outwardly and securely bind the object to be lifted therein.

2. A grappling device of the class described comprising spring metal sections having their ends hingedly connected together and adapted to fold closely together, and wedges directly connected to each of the sections for disposition between the sec tions and an object to lifted to spring said 10 hereto.

FRANK RAIDT. 

